Creamy Shrimp Dip
Dec 10, 2025
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What makes this creamy Shrimp Dip so special isn’t just the nostalgic flavor – it’s the ease in which it comes together, something we all can appreciate during the busy season. This appetizer features softened creamed cheese and mayonnaise whipped together, a classic backbone of Midwest-inspired party dips. The mixture is then combined with chopped salad shrimp and a handful of ingredients that meld together for a classic seafood flavor.
Over the years, I’ve made this cold Shrimp Dip for countless holiday parties and served it alongside fresh cucumber slices and crackers. And every single time, someone inevitably asks for the recipe. So, here it is!
Ingredients You Need for Shrimp Dip
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 8 ounces frozen salad shrimp, thawed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- A few dashes hot sauce, to taste
How to Make This Easy Shrimp Dip
Prepare the base. Add softened cream cheese to a medium bowl and blend with a hand mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add mayonnaise and mix until fully combined and no lumps appear.
Infuse with flavor. Add lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, garlic powder and black pepper. Fold until well-incorporated.
Fold in the shrimp. Pat the salad shrimp dry with paper towels. Rough chop them, as desired, then fold them gently into the dip. Stir in sliced green onions.
What are salad shrimp?
Salad shrimp are very small, fully cooked shrimp – usually size 90/120 or even 100/200 per pound – that are mild, tender and perfect for mixing into cold dishes like this shrimp dip. They’re most often sold frozen, and they thaw quickly for ease of use in this recipe or anytime you need cold protein-rich shrimp.
Chill to set. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, cover and refrigerator for at least 1 hour, up to overnight. This will help the flavors come together and the dip to thicken.
Garnish and serve. Top the dip with an extra sprinkle of Old Bay and a few extra chopped scallions. Serve chilled with crackers and raw veggies.
If you’re looking for an easy holiday appetizer that feels festive without the fuss, give this Shrimp Dip a try. Make it ahead, pop it in the fridge, and pull it out when you’re ready to serve.
This recipe pairs well with a full spread of appetizers including Smoked Salmon Mousse and Goat Cheese Toast with Pomegranate & Mint. This way of eating became a tradition for my family, with no main course being made, for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
No matter how you serve it, this simple dip will brings back any fond memories you had of being home for the holidays.
Creamy Shrimp Dip
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 8 ounces frozen salad shrimp, thawed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- A few dashes hot sauce, to taste
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the mayonnaise and mix until fully combined.
- Add lemon juice, Worcestershire, Old Bay garlic powder and black pepper. Mix until incorporated.
- Pat the salad shrimp dry with paper towels. Fold shrimp and sliced green onions into the dip. Add some heat with a few dashes of hot sauce, stirring to combine.
- Transfer to a serving dish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight, so the flavors meld and the dip sets.
- Garnish with an additional sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning and extra green onions. Serve with crackers and raw, cut veggies.
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